Car truck bolster



June 10 1941. K. R. HAMMERs'rRoM 2,245,272

CAR TRUCK BOLSTER Filed may 2?, lss s sham-sheet 1 June 10, 1941- K. R. HAMMERsTRoM 2,245,272

CAR TRUCK BoLsTER' Filed May 22,5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll l, f

l/ N nl W 1 4 f5 l 55 4 fzzjeizfo."

,K4/ez E. #mi/agrega June l0, 1941. K. R. HAMMERSTROM 2,245,272

CAR TRUCK HOLSTER Filed May zsh, 19:59' :s sheets-Sheet' :s

Patented June 10, 1941 CAR TRUCK BOLSTER Karl R. Hammerstrom, Dormont, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 23, 1939, Serial No. 275,276

(Cl. MI-226) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to car truck bolsters of the box girder type and made primarily from rolled steel parts. Specific examples of the invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of an example of a bolster embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the bolster shown by Figure 1;

` Figure 3 is a section taken from the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figures 4 through 8 are sections taken from the lines IV-IV through VIII-VIII, respectively, of Figure 2;

Figure 9 shows a section of the plate from which a part of the bolster is formed;

Figure 10 is a top view of a second example of the bolster embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 1l is a section taken from the line XI-XI of Figure 10; and,

Figures 12 through 14 are sections taken from the lines XII- XII through XIV-XIV, respectively, of Figure 11.

In the case of the first example, the top portion of the bolster is an upright rolled chane nel section I and its bottom portion is an inverted channel section 2, the two channel sections having their ange edges abutting and interfastened by welding. The ends of the channel I are depressed by forming as required to t them to the truck side frame, and the channel section 2 is formed from the plate Section illustrated by Figure 9 so as to provide it with a deepened central portion connecting through diagonals with the end portions.

The plate section illustrated by Figure 9 is rolled and has alongitudinally extending central portion 3 and longitudinally-extending side portions 4, the central portion being thicker than the side portions and being reduced in lthickness along its center, as at E'. The reduced center 5 of the thickened central portion 3 is for the purpose' of permitting the plate section under discussion to becommercially rolled. The channel section 2 is formed from this plate section so that its flanges are formed primarily from the side portions 4 of the section, while its web is formed primarily from the central portion 3, the reduced center 5 then becoming an advantage in that it lightens the bolster along its longitudinal center line.

As is usual, a center plate S is xed to the bolster top at its center. The particular center plate illustrated, however, is distinguished from the conventional type in that its bolster top contacting portion provides straight sides 1 for facilitating attachment of the center plate to the bolster top by welding. Furthermore, major portions of these sides 1 extend diagonally of the bolster top, whereby to place the lines of welding more nearly in line with the stress than is possible when the Welds follow the circular outline of a center plate.

At each end of the bolster a vertical plate 8 extends longitudinally of the bolster from the end portion to beneath the adjacent side bearing supporting portion, and from top to bottom l end of the plate 8 at right angles to the same,

the plates being welded together and the plate 9 being welded to both the bolster top and bottom. Preferably, the plate 9 is arranged directly in line with the center` of the side bearing ,supporting portion of the bolster, this portion l being located as required.

The center of the bolster is braced beneath the center plate 8 by a Vertical plate Ill arranged inside the bolster beneath the king' pin hole in the center plate, with its edges connecting with all walls of the bolster. This plate is downwardly recessed or slotted, as at II, beneath the king pin opening, and a vertical cylinder I2, which is actually a piece of pipe of suitable diameter, is welded in the recess orslot II to form a king pin guide. The slot II is longer than this king pin guide, its bottom having a small plate I3 welded horizontally to the same, this providing a king pin rest.

Holes Il are formed in the side walls of the bolster in the manner required for the passage of brake equipment, and barsV I5 are welded in the inside bottom corners o( the bolster beneath the holes Il, these bars functioning to replace the strength `lost by formation ofthese holes. The bars I5 should be sulciently long and have suilicient cross-section to perform their intended inaction. Since they are welded throughout their lengths to the bolster bottom and side walls, connection of the plate vI0 can be established.with the bottom by welding this plate to` these bars. The other edges of the plate I0 are welded to the sides and top of the bolsterand, of course, to' the cylinder I2 forming the king pin guide. This arrangement ,not only provides great strength, but provides clearance beneath the bottom of the plate I0, a hole being formed in the bolster bottom to permit condensate to drain and the just mentioned clearance preventing the plate Ill from acting as a water-tight bulkhead.

Intermediate posts Il are spaced to either side of the center of the bolster and in substantial alignment with the lower ends of the bolster bottom diagonals. 'Ifhese posts Il are in the form of vertical plates arranged parallel the bolster sides in line with the center line of the bolster. In each instance the plate forming the posts II is braced against buckling by a transverse plate I8 having its ends welded to the bolster side walls and one of its sides Welded to the edge of the plate forming that one of the intermediate posts, adjacent the middle of the same. 'Ihe plates I8 also function to brace the bolster side walls, these plates connecting with the side walls adjacent the holes I4 and between the latter and the bolster ends.

The bolster column guides I9 are Welded to the ends of the bolster in their proper positions, although they may be fastened by other means if desired, To aid in assembling the bolster, hand holes 2U are formed in its top on either side of the center plate, and the bolster top is braced at these points by short plates 2l Welded to the bolster top inside on either side of each hole, these plates depending and functioning to prevent buckling of the top adjacent the holes 20.

The second example embodies many of the parts used in the case of the first example, the primary diierence being that the side walls of the posts, and its bottom edge being shaped to nt the bolster bottom. lThis bottom edge of the bar 22 is welded to the bolster bottom and serves to centrally reenforce the latter beneath the center plate and intermediate posts. Since the absence of the holes I4 prevents internal welding of the tops of the intermediate posts to the holster top, the latter is provided with slots 23 through which the tops of the plates forming the center posts Ilf" extend, the tops of these posts being welded to the bolster top by way of the portions thus exposed.

I claim:

1. A box section car tmck bolster including a vertical plate inside the bolster -beneath the king pin hole and with its edges connecting with all walls of the bolster, the plate being downwardly recessed or slotted beneath the king pin opening, and a long vertical cylinder xed in the recess or slot in said plate to form a king pin guide.

2. A box section car truckbolster including a vertical plate inside the bolster beneath the king pin hole and with its edges connecting with all walls of the bolster, the plate being downwardly recessed or slotted beneath the king pin opening, and a long vertical cylinder xed in the recess or slot in said plate to form a king pin guide, a king this second example are not provided with the holes It, it being understood that these holes are not necessary in all instances.

Because oi the absence of these holes, it is not necessary to use the bars I5 of the rst example. A further difference is that the plate I0 of the previously described example is substituted by two parallel plates I which extend vertically of the bolster from top to bottom and with their outer edges engaging the bolster side walls. The adjacent edges of the plates |08 are spaced, the king pin guide I2 being welded in its proper position between these edges, the king pin rest in this case being in the form of a plate I3 arranged horizontally and having 'slotted ends with the plates It!a positioned in the slots of the same. The slotted ends of this rest are Welded to the adjacent surfaces of the plates III, the side edges and bottom edges of the latter being respectively Welded to the bolster side and bottom walls, While the top of the king pin guide I2 is welded to the bolsterl top. This completes a rigid assembly, it being remembered that the king pin guide I2 is welded to the two plates II)n so as to rigidly join them adjacent their tops.

Another difference between this example and the first one is that the intermediate posts I'la have straight bottom edges which are Welded to the top of a bar 22 which extends longitudinally of the bolster along its center line between the plates It, the top of this bar providing a straight edge for association with the bottom edges ,of

pin rest being fastened to the edge of said recess or slot beneath said cylinder.

3. A box section car truck bolster fabricated from rolled metal and having holes formed in its side walls for the passage of equipment through the bolster, said bolster including separate bars respectively welded in its inside bottom corners beneath said holes and functioning to replace strength lost by formation of said holes, said bars being relatively narrow so their adjacent edges do not approach the bolster center.

4. A box section car truck bolster including intermediate posts spaced to either side of its center, said posts being in the form of vertical plates parallel the bolster sides, and transverse plates fastened to the bolster side walls and the first named plates at positions stiiening the latter,

said bolster having a deepened center and the rst named plates resting on a bar extending longitudinally of the "bolster, the top edge of said bar being straight and the bottom edge being shaped to fit the bottom Wall of the deepened center of the bolster.

5. A box section car truck bolster including vertical, coplanar plates arranged transversely inside the bolster beneath the king pin hole, the

adjacent edges of said plates being spaced and a king pin guide being xed therebetween, other edges of said plates connecting with the bolster sides and bottom.

6. A box section car truck bolster including vertical, coplanarplates arranged transversely inside the bolster beneath the king ypin hole, the adjacent edges of said plates being spaced and a king pin guide being fixed therebetween, other edges oi'I said plates connecting with the bolster sides and bottom, a horizontal plate, having slotted ends receiving portions of said vertical plates and fixed thereto, serving as a king pin support beneath said guide.

KARL R. HAMMERSTROM. 

